Method and apparatus for packaging materials



April 3, 1934.

L. A) BECKER 1,953,095

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Filed Oct. 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l Ap 1934. L. A. BECKER 1,953,096

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Filed Oct. 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY J W ATTORNEYS April 3, 1934. L. A. BECKER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Filed 001;. 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 [N VEN 70R. l g/w A. FR'AEP.

fig-m ATTORNEYS l April 3, 1934. A. BECKER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Filed Oct. 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 avr ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 3, 1934 TENT OFFEE 1,953,096 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Logan A. Becker, Lakewood, Ohio.

or to Du Pont Cellophane Company, Inc New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 24, 1929, Serial No. 402,682

29 Claim.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for packaging materials.

The general purpose of the invention is to provide a simple, economical procedure and apparatus for efiectively packaging materials in transparent containers formed of regenerated cellulose sheeting thinly coated on both sides with a fusible moisture-proofing composition.

The method and apparatus are particularly designed for the packaging of cigars or the like in moisture prooied regenerated cellulose sheeting,

although in certain aspects of the invention, it

is not necessarily limited to this specific material.

' In the particular form of the invention illustrated herein, the invention contemplates the utilization of tubes formed of such material as described above and the insertion of articles such as cigars into said tubes and closing and sealing the tubes to provide an attractive package for the articles in which the fresh condition of the articles is preserved indefinitely. These tubes are formed longer than the article to be packaged with front and back panels, in the latter of whichthe material is usually lapped when the tube is formed and the front and back panels are connected by plicated or bellows-like sides which are collapsed so that the tube normally is flat with front and back panels together, the tube being adapted to be extended to substantially square shape in section and being adapted to be contracted at its ends to fold fiatwise and form a neat package.

The specific form of the invention which has been illustrated herein consists in expanding such a tube by suction means acting on the panels, spreading an end of the tube and inserting article therein, the tube being spread at said end by means operable by the article as it is inserted, contracting said end or both ends of the tube, where tubes open at both ends are used, to flat condition, creasing and folding said end or ends adjacent the ends of the inserted article and securing said folded end or ends to the body of the package and sealing the same by application of heat and pressure applied against the folded end, whereby the coating will cause the plies of material in the fold and the body of the package to adhere.

50 In the specific form of the invention illustrated, the tubes or pouches used are held in a horizontal position with an open end at one side. It is apparent, however, that the invention is equally adaptable to hold the containers verti cally with the open ends up, for loading.

Apparatus is provided by the invention for efiectively carrying out the foregoing method, the apparatus being designed to perform the various operations outlined above upon a stream or series of articles in succession advanced intermittently through the machine.

The invention will be further briefly described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the method and apparatus embodying the invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular form thereof shown and described.

Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of an apparatus embodying and adapted to carry out the invention;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2, but showing the positions of the parts when a cigar is inserted in a tube;

Figure 4 is a section on line M of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan of the device for spreading an end of the tube or package for inserting the article, the device being illustrated as it is initially actuated in inserting the article;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Figure 5;

I Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustratthe final actuation of said device as the article passes into the package or tube;

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure d;

Figlu'e 10 is a section on line iii-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a section on line ll ll of Figure 1; 93

Figure 12 is a section on line 1l-12 of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the creasing elements as shown in Figure 12;

Figure 13 is a section on line 13-13 of Figure i; and

Figure M is an elevation of a cigar packaged by the machine.

The cut tubes may be supplied to the machine shown in the drawings in any suitable way, either mechanically or by hand. A revoluble suction head is shown at 10 on which may be arranged supports 11, 11 to receive tubes T of the material and formation described above, the tubes including front panel 1, rear panel 2, and plicated sides 3, 3. Radial suction ducts l2, 12 extend to the surfaces of the supports 11 from longitudinal suction ducts 13, 13 under each support, the latter being plugged at 14 and being adapted to register at their other ends 15 with an arcuate 116 slot.16 in a fixed head 17 through 180 of rotation of the head 10 as from a position in which a support is at the top of the head to a position at which the support is at the bottom of the head, each duct 13 passing out of registry with the slot 16 in traveling from the lowermost position to the uppermost position. A suction line 18 may be connected to the slot 16 so that a tube placed on a support in the uppermost position with the front face or panel 1 down as shown in Figures 2 and 3 will be carried about by the support to the lowermost position, in which it is inverted and is held with its front face or panel 1 up. The heads 10 and 17 may be mounted on a bracket 19 and the former may be intermittently rotated by means of a shaft 20 connected to suitable driving means (not shown).

The head -10 accordingly provides suitable means for supporting a tube by suction from above at a station'where an article may be inserted. For expanding the tube to receive an article, vertically reciprocable suction nozzles 21, 21 may be provided, one being under the head 10 at the front of the machine and the other under the head at the rear of the machine, the tube in the specific form of the invention shown being open at both ends when supplied to the machine. The nozzles 21 have suction ducts 22, 22 therein connected with ducts 23; 23 which may be connectedto a. suitable suction line (not shown). The nozzles are movable into engagement with the back panel of a tube T on a support 11 in the lowermost position on head 10 and are then movable downwardly to expand the tube T as shown in Figures 3, 6 and 7.

A feeding device by which articles may be sup- I plied to the machine for insertion into the tubes is shown at 24, comprising means providing a surface over which articles such as cigars 25 may be fed in cooperation with a guide 26 and against a guide 26 between which is an opening 26 through which the articles may be inserted into the tubes, the guide 26 being arranged to align an article pushed thereagainst with an expanding tube held between head 10 and nozzles 21 by suction. A rammer 27 may be arranged to engage the outer end of an article which is against guide 26 and push it through opening 26 into an open tube T. This rammer may be reciprocated by suitable means (not shown).

In order to insert the article in a tube T in an efiective way, it is desirable to spread the end of tube T into which the article is inserted to insure against crumpling the tube by the insertion of the article, due to uneven formations or the like on the articles, as, for example, the bands 25 on the cigars. An effective procedure and apparatus for accomplis g this, consists in providing a spreader at 28 which may be operable by the article in inserting it into the tube to spread the end of the tube and prevent engagement of the article therewith as it passes into the tube.

The spreading device 28 may comprise two mating members 28 28 of semi-cylindrical formation at their outer ends but tapering to lips defined by arcuate edges as at 28 so that the members may cooperate to define a sort of funnel into which an article may be pushed by rammer 2'! for inserting in tube T. The lips of members 28 28 are adapted to be spread apart by being mounted on arms 29, 29 pivoted at 30, 30 on levers 31, 31 which are in turn pivoted on fixed pivots 32, 32. The arms 29 are normally urged against stops 34, 34 by means of comparatively strong springs 33 tending to hold the members 28, 28 with their lips closed. The levers 31 are normally urged against stops 31, shown in Figure 1, by comparatively weak springs 35, 35. Stops 36, 36 are provided to limit inward movement of levers 31. This mounting of the spreading lips 28 and 28 serves to hold the same out of obstructing relation'to the tubes T as they are supplied to the inserting station in the machine and expanded, but permits the lips to be engaged by an article to be inserted and first bodily shifted against the weak resistance of springs 35 into t 'e end of an expanded tube until levers 31 engage stops 36 and then spread against the stronger action of springs 33 when the article is forced between the lips into the tube.

Since, in the machine shown the tubes used are open at both ends, a similar spreading device 28 is shown at the rear of the machine with which a reciprocable stop rod 38 is arranged to cooperate in the same manner as the article 25 cooperates with the device'28 to permit insertion of rod 33 into the tube to determine the position of the article inserted therein. The stop rod may be reciprocated bysuitable means (not shown).

The further operations of contracting, folding and sealing the ends of the tubes about the article to complete the package may be performed at a series of stations to which the articles may be intermittently passed in succession from the inserting station. To convey the articles from the inserting station through these latter stations. ways comprising spaced bars 39 may be provided, beyond the forward and rear edges of which the articles may project, whereby the ends of the tube may be contracted, creased and folded back upon the body of the tube and sealed and a pair of yielding bars 40 urged downwardly by springs '11, 41 may be arranged to grip articles on the ways 39, whereby they may be intermittently advanced by a yielding finger type of conveyor 42. The conveyor 42 is reciprocable along ways 39 and connected to a cross-head 44 operable by a reciprocating member or bar 44 actuated by suitable means (not shown). Conveyors of this type include pivoted fingers 45 45 mounted on the conveyor 42 as at 46 and normally urged upwardly by springs 4'7 in position to push the articles or cigars along in spaced relation when conveyor 42 is moved in one direction, said fingers adapted to be depressed by the articles when the conveyor 42 is moved in the reversed direction and to return to their upper positions in back of succeeding articles as will be understood. To hold the articles against retrograde movement, fingers 45 45 similar to fin gers'45 are pivoted as at 46 on the bars 39 and normally held upwardly by springs 47* and are adapted to be depressed as the articles are moved by the fingers 45 and to return to their upper positions in back of the articles after forward movement thereof has been completed on each forward stroke of conveyor 42 to hold the art cles as conveyor 42 makes its rearward stroke.

The closing and sealing operations take place at stations along the conveyor 42. To provide for these operations, a tube end contracting device may be arranged at 51, a folding plate or shoe at 54, a creaser at 55 and a folding device and sealing device at 59 and 60.

The tube end contracting device may comprse a pair of upper and lower plates on edge with the adjacent edges thereof converging as at 52 to a comparatively narrow slot at 53, these edges being arranged to be engaged by the projecting ends all of the tube on the articles comparatively close to the ends of the articles for urging together the front and back panels of tubes T (Figure 10) as the articles are passed along by the conveyor toward the creasing, folding and sealing instrumentalities.

The shoe 54 is designed and arranged to initiate the folding of the tube ends preferably while being contracted by device 51, this shoe being upwardly curved at its forward end to gradually depress the ends of the tubes downwardly by engagement therewith further out along the projecting ends of the tube than the contracting device and after the projecting tube ends have been partly contracted. i

Both the contracting and initial folding devices act on the projecting tube ends while the articles are being conveyed.

The creaser 55 includes relatively movable creasing elements 55 and 55', the upper of which 55, may be fixed and the lower of which 55 may be movable toward and from the upper. The projecting contracted and initially folded ends of the tubes pass to a position under the creasing element 55 and the element 55 is arranged to be actuated to crease the folds adjacent the ends of the articles while the articles are stationary during the dwell between the intermittent feeding movement thereof.

The folding device or wiper 59 and the sealing device 60 are arranged at the last station along the conveyor. The former may comprise a reciprocable plate movable endwise of the article to fold the creased projecting end of the tube under the article and to hold the same flatly against the body of the tube for sealing. Suitable means (not shown) may be provided to rec procate plate 59. The sealing device preferably comprises a heated pressing element reciprocably mounted for movement toward and from the under side of the article against the end of the tube to fuse the coating on the tube, whereby the end of the tube will be sealed and will adhere to the body of the tube to secure the fold. This element may be electrically or otherwise heated. Both the folding devce 59 and sealing device 60 are adapted to be actuated while an article remains at this station during a dwell in the intermittent feeding of the articles. To assist in folding the ends under the article after creas'ng, a shoe 59 may be arranged in advance of the folding device 59 to progressively fold the ends of the tubes further downwardly between the creaser 55 and the folder 59 as the tubes pass between these stations.

In the form of machine shown, the tube expanding device 21, the tube end creasing device 55, and the sealing device are arranged to be simultaneously operated by a common actuating member 61 which may be reciprocated upwardly and downwardly under the slide 39 by means connected thereto as at 62. This member has an element 57adjustably mounted thereon for engaging the creasing element 55 which is pivotally mounted as shown to be actuated upwardly by the element 57. Also the various contracting preliminary folding, creasing, final folding, and seating devices are duplicated at the rear of the machine for operation on the rear ends of tubes open at both ends, these devices not being required if tubes initially sealed at one end are supplied the machine.

It will appear from the foregoing that simple procedure and apparatus for carrying out said procedure have been provided for the economical and efiective packaging of materialsiin transparent containers of the type referred to. 0bviously, modifications of this invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. That method for packaging articles such as cigars in containers of transparent material with fusible waterproof coatings inside and out, which method comprises providing flat tubes of such material which are longer than the articles to be packaged and are open at both ends, said tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, feeding said tubes in succession to an article inserting station, expanding the tubes in succession at said station by suction means acting on the front and back panels thereof, inserting the articles in the expanded tubes in succession at said inserting station, conveying the tube-enclosed articles intermittently from said inserting station, contracting the projecting ends of the tubes to fiat condition and preliminarily folding said projecting ends while being conveyed by said conveyor, creasing said flattened and preliminarily folded ends of the tubes at a succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles and folding the creased ends of the tubes back onto the articles and securing and sealing the folded ends of the tubes by application of heat and pressure to said folded ends against the articles, both lastnamed operations being formed at a succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles.

2. That method for packaging articles such as cigars in containers of transparent material with fusible waterproof coatings inside and out, which method comprises providing flat tubes of such material which are longer than the articles to be packaged and are open at both ends, said tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, feeding said tubes in succession to an article inserting station, expanding the tubes in succession at said station by suetion means acting on the front and back panels thereof, inserting the articles in the expanded tubes in succession at said inserting station, conveying the tube-enclosed articles intermittently from said inserting station, contracting the projecting ends of the tubes to fiat condition while being conveyed by said conveyor, creasing said flattened ends at a succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles and folding the creased ends of the tubes back onto the articles and securing and sealing the folded ends of the tubes by application of heat and a pressure to said folded ends against the articles, both last-named operations being formed at a succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles.

3. That method f0;- packaging articles such as cigars in containers of transparent material with fusible waterproof coatings inside and out, which method comprises providing fiat tubes of such material which are longer than the articles to be packaged and are open at an end, said tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, feeding said tubes in succession to an article inserting station, expanding the tubes in succession at said station by suction means acting on the front and back panels thereof, inserting the articles in the expanded tubes in succession at said inserting station, conveying the tube-enclosed articles intermittently from said inserting station, contracting the projecting ends of the tubes to flat condition and preliminarily folding said projecting ends while being conveyed by said conveyor, creasing said flattened and preliminarily folded ends of the tubes at .a' succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles and folding the creased ends of the tubes back onto the articles and securing and sealing the folded ends of the tubes by application of heat and pressure to said folded ends against the articles, both last named operations being formed at a succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles.

4. That method for packaging articles such as cigars in containers of transparent material with fusible waterproof coatings inside and out, which method comprises providing flat tubes of such material which are longer than the articles to be packaged and are open at an end, said tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, feeding said tubes in succession to an article inserting station, expanding the tubes in succession at said station by suction means acting on the front and back panels thereof, inserting the articles in the expanded tubes in succession at said inserting station, conveying the filled tubes intermittently from said inserting station, contracting the projecting ends of the tubes to fiat condition while being conveyed by said conveyor, creasing said flattened ends at a succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles and folding the creased ends of the tubes back onto the articles and securing and sealing the folded ends of the tubes by application of heat and pressure to said folded ends against the articles, both last-named operations being formed-at a succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles.

5. That method for packaging articles such as cigars in containers of transparent material with fusible waterproof coatings inside and out, which method comprises providing tubes of such material which are longer than the articles to be packaged and are open at an end, feeding said tubes in succession to an article inserting station, expending the tubes in succession at said station, inserting the articles in the expanded tubes in succession at said inserting station, conveying the tube-enclosed articles intermittently from said inserting station, contracting the projecting ends of the tubes to flat condition and preliminarily folding said projecting ends while being conveyed by said conveyor, creasing said flattened and preliminarily folded ends of the tubes at a succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles and folding the creased ends of the tubes back onto the articles and securing and sealing the folded ends of the tubes by application of heat and pressure to said folded ends against the articles, both last-named operations being formed at a succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles.

6. That method for packaging articles such as cigars incontainers of transparent material with fusible waterproof coatings inside and out, which method comprises providing tubes of such material which are longer than the articles to be packaged and are open at an end, feeding said tubes in succession to an article inserting station, expanding the tubes in succession at said station, inserting the articles in the expanded tubes in succession at said inserting station, conveying the tube-enclosed articles intermittently from said inserting station, contracting the projecting ends of the tubes to flat condition while being conveyed by said conveyor, creasing said flattened ends at a succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles and folding the creased ends of ,the tubes back onto the articles and securing and sealing the folded ends of the, tubes by application of heat and pressure to said folded ends against the articles, both last-named operations being formed at a succeeding station during a dwell in the movement of said articles.

7. That method for packaging articles in flexible containers having front and back panels with expansible sides and open at an end, which comfprises inserting the articles into the containers so as to leave said open ends projecting beyond the articles, intermittently feeding said tube-enclosed articles in succession along a path, contracting said ends during the feeding of the articles, preliminarily folding said ends as they are being concontainers having front and back panels with expansible sides and open at the ends, which comprises inserting the articles into the containers so as to leave said open ends projecting beyond the articles, intermittently feeding said tube-enclosed articles in succession along a path, contracting said ends during the feeding of the articles, transversely creasing said contracted folded ends during a dwell in the movement of the articles and then folding said ends back on the articles during another dwell in the movement of the articles.

9. That method forpackaging articlesinflexible containers having front and back panels with expansible sides and open at an end, which comprises inserting the articles into the containers so as to leave said open ends projecting beyond the articles, intermittently feeding said tube-enclosed articles in succession along a path, preliminarily folding said ends as the articles are fed, transversely creasing said preliminarily folded ends during a dwell in the movement of the articles and then folding said ends back on the articles during another dwell in the movement of the articles.

10. That method for packaging articles in flexible containers having front and back panels with expansible sides and open at the ends, which comprises inserting the articles into the containers so as to leave said open ends projecting beyond the articles, intermittently feeding said tube-enclosed articles in succession along a path, transversely creasing said ends during a dwell in the movement of the articles and then folding said ends back on the articles during another dwell in the movement of the articles.

11. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes open at both ends including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to be bodily movable into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, stop means movable into the other ends of the tubes, a second tube end spreading device at the rear of said expanding means and including similarly operable lip members arranged to be similarly actuated by said stop means, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, converging means along said conveying means for contracting the open ends of the tubes to flat condition during movement of the articles by the conveyor, means associated with the conveyor for preliminarily folding the projecting ends oi the tubes as the articles travel on the conveyor, means at one station on the conveyor for creasing the projecting ends of the tubes subsequent to the preliminary folding operation during a dwell in the movement or the articles, and means tor folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last-ed means being at another station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movent oi the articles.

12. Apparatus for pack articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansibie sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tube in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members noly cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to be bodily movable into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means ior intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, converging means along said conveying means for contracting the open ends of the tubes to flat condition during movement of the articles by the conveyor, means associated with the conveyor for preliminarily folding the projecting ends of the tubes as the articles travel on the conveyor, means at one station on the conveyor for creasing the projecting ends of the tubes subsequent to the preliminary folding operation during a dwell in the movement of the articles, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last-named means being at another station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

13. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansibie sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said ex panded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair 0! lip members normally cooperating to define a tunnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to be bodily movable into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement 01' the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction-expanding means, converging means along said conveying means for contracting the open ends of the tubes to fiat condition during movement of the articles by the conveyor, means at one station on the conveyor for creasing the projecting ends of the tubes during a dwell in the movement of the articles, and means for folding the projecting ends or the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both oi. said last-named means being at another station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

1e. Apps tus for packaging articles in transparent flexi containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in sucsession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, 9. tube and spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to be bodily movable into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, converging means along said conveying means for contracting the open ends of the tubes to flat condition during movement of the articles by the conveyor during a dwell in the movement of the articles, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds. both of said last named means being at another station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

15. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes open at both ends including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end or" an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, stop means movable q into the other ends of the tubes, a second tube end spreading device at the rear of said expanding means and including similarly operable lip members arranged to be similarly actuated by said stop means, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, converging means along said conveying means for contracting the open ends of the tubes to flat condition during movement of the articlesby the conveyor, means associated with the conveyor for preliminarily folding the projecting ends of the tubes as the articles travel on the conveyor, means at one station on the conveyor for creasing the projecting ends of the tubes subsequent to the preliminary folding operation during a dwell in the movement of the articles, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the .tubes and to secure the folds, both of said lastnamed means being at another station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

16. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, converging means along said conveying means for contracting the open' ends of the tubes to flat condition during movement of the articles by the conveyor, means associated with the conveyor for preliminary folding the projecting ends of the tubes as the articles travel on the conveyor, means at one station on the conveyor for creasing the projecting ends of the tubes subsequent to the preliminary folding operation during a dwell in the movement of the articles, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said lastnamed means being at, another station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

1'7. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between saidlips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expandingimeans, converging means along said conveying means for contracting the open ends of the tubes toflat condition during movement of the articles by the conveyor, means at one station on the conveyor for creasing the projecting ends of the tubes during a dwell in the movement of the articles, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last-named means being at another station on the, conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles. I

18. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, converging means along said conveying means for contracting the open ends of the tubes to flat condition by the conveyor, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying .heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last named means being at another station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

19. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes open at both ends including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means forfeeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, converging means along said conveying means for contracting the open ends of the tubes to flat condition during movement of the articles by the conveyor, means associated with the conveyor for the end of an expanded tubecession into a position in alignment with said exback upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last-named means being at a station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

20. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and betwen said lips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, means associated with the conveyor for preliminarily folding the projecting ends of the tubes as the articles travel on the conveyor, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last-named means being at a station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

21. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including, front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for in-' termittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, converging means along said conveying means for contracting the open ends of the tubes to flat condition during movement of the articles by the conveyor, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said lastnamed means being at a station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

22. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in sucpanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair oi lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, converging means along said conveying means for contracting the open ends of the tubes to fiat condition by the conveyor, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles. and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last named means being at a station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

23. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes open at both ends including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, means associated'with the conveyor for preliminarily folding the projecting ends of the tubes as the articles travel on the conveyor, means at one station on the conveyor for creasing the projecting ends of the tubes subsequent to the preliminary folding cperation during a dwell in the movement of the articles, and means for folding the projecting endsof the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last-named means being at another station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

24. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means,

saidlip members being adapted to extend into the end of an expanded tube and to be. spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for intermit- MED tently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, means at one station on the conveyor for creasing the projecting ends of the tubes during a dwell i'nthe movement of the articles, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last-named means being at another station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

25. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers com prising tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair oflip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, means at one sta: tion on the conveyor for creasing the projecting ends of the tubes during a dwell in the movement of the articles, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last-named means being at another station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

26. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and'to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a" tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes open at both ends including front and back 'panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, 9. tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end of an extended tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, stop means movable into the other ends of the tubes, a second tube end spreading device at the rear of said expanding means and including similarly operable lip members arranged to be similarly actuated by said stopmeans, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction expanding means, means associated with the conveyor for preliminarily folding the projecting ends of the tubes as the articles travel on the conveyor, and means for folding the projecting ends'of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last-named means being at a station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles.

28. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engagesaid panels and to expand said tubes succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into the end of an expanded tube and to be spread by movement of the article into said funnel and between said lips into the tube, means for intermittently conveying the articles in the tubes from said suction members, means associated with the conveyor for preliminarily folding the projecting ends of the tubes as the articlestravel on the conveyor, and means for folding the projecting ends of the tubes back upon the articles, and means for applying heat and pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both of said last-named means being at a station on the conveyor and operable during a dwell in the movement of the articles. 3

29. Apparatus for packaging articles in transparent flexible containers of material coated with fusible waterproof coatings, said containers comprising tubes including front and back panels with expansible sidewalls, said apparatus including relatively movable suction members adapted to engage said panels and to expand said tubes in succession, means for feeding articles in succession into a position in alignment with said expanded tubes, means for moving the articles in succession from said position into the tubes, a tube end spreading device comprising a pair of lip members normally cooperating to define a funnel in front of said suction expanding means, said lip members being adapted to extend into pressure to the folded ends against the articles to seal the articles in the tubes and to secure the folds, both'of said last-named means being at a station on the conveyor and operable during a, dwell in the movement of the articles.

LOGAN A. BECKER. 

